Electrical cable connecter



Oct. I7, 1933-. I o. RICHTER ET A L ,9

ELECTRICAL CABLE CONNECTER Filed Nov. 16. 1931 1"" J 1115 a L INVENTOR5OJFic/zier B .Carmiyyeli BY THE"? ATTORNEZE W Patented Oct. 17, 1933UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Otto Richter and Bernard Carmiggelt, NewYork, N. Y.

Application November 16, 1931 Serial No. 575,180

3Claims.

The main object of this invention is the provision of a novel electricalcable terminal or connecter particularly adaptable to storage batteriesas used on automobiles, where there is considerable and sometimes severevibration and shock which tends to loosen the ordinary connecter, andthis invention aims to prevent such loosening as a result of suchdisturbances.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cable terminalconnecter which permits quick and simple detachment of the connecterwithout the aid of tools and in a minimum of time.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such aconnecter which may be readiLv snapped on or 011 a terminal post withthe fingers.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of such a terminalwith means for readily and simply tightening the connection in case itshould for any reason become loose, as.

for instance as a result of corrosion.

And yet another object of the invention is the provision of such aconnecter with means for adjusting the vertical position of the terminalon a battery post so that lost play resulting from wear or corrosion maybe taken up and the connection again made securely tight.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the connecter applied to a storage batteryterminal.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the clampin jaws.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connecter per se, prior to itsapplication to the terminal post.

The above and other objects of the invention will become apparent in thedescriptionbelow, in which characters of reference refer to -10like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 indicates anupwardly-tapering terminal post of lead, such as is commonly used onstorage batteries, having a widened base 11 usually lying flush with orupon the surface of the battery. The connecter of this inventioncomprises, first, an outwardly-tapering body 12 having the usual openingtherein, shown dotted in Fig. 2 for the insertion of the end of thecable,

the latter being soldered therein. At the end of the body 12 oposite thehollow end, a rounded mount 13 is formed by opposing curvedjaws 14extending from the body 12, these jaws engaging the post 10 on one sideas shown in Fig. 2. Projecting bosses 15 extend, one from each side,

from the rear of the jaws 14, and have the ends of a substantiallyU-shaped resilient member 16 looped thereabout, thus pivoting the endsof this member on' these bosses.

A locking member 18 has its lower end bent around as shown in Fig. 2, toprovide a sleeve 19 having an axial opening therein through which passesthe bridging arm 17 of the resilient member 16. A separate clamp member25 is mounted against the post 10 opposite the mouth 13, and is providedwith rounded jaws 20 enclosing a mouth 21. The jaws of both members areof such width that when both are mounted as shown in Figs. I and 2, avertical space is provided between adjacent edges of opposite jaws. Theouter face of the clamp member 25 is flat, as shown at 22, and one ormore horizontal grooves 23 are provided centrally in said flat face. Oneside of the sleeve 19 is extended to form a substantially sharp edge orridge 24 which is adapted to register in the groove 23. All of the partsdescribed, excepting the resilient member 16, are made of lead, or othersuitable metal.

In using the device, the mouth 13 is first placed against the post 10,with the locking member 18, with its extended, flattened handle or grip26, swung into substantially vertical position. The clamp member 25 isthen placed against the post opposite the mouth 13, and the member 18 isswung downward with the ridge 24 lying at the entrance to the groove 23.The handle 26 is then swung downward and toward the post 10, whence theridge 24 is wedged firmly into groove 23, looking the opposite mouthsagainst the post as shown in Fig. 2. The resiliency of the member 16provides a tight connection at all times and causes absorption ofvibration and shock such as loosens ordinary battery connecters. In casethe post should become worn or corroded and its diameter therebylessened, the jaws are simply lowered a distance to a point where thetapering post is sufficiently wide to insure a tight closure.

It is obvious from the above that the procedure of attaching the cableto the post, or detaching the same, is a very simple operation, beingaccomplished simply by means of the fingers without requiring the use oftools such as pliers or screw drivers, as is usually necessary.

It is to be noted that modifications in form 105 and structure may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a device adapted to releasably connect a cable to an upwardlytapering terminal post, a 110 pair of jaws, one of said jaws having thecable secured thereto, said jaws engaging said post, pins extending fromopposite sides of one of said jaws, a substantially U-shaped resilientmember having coiled ends rotatably mounted on said pins, a lockingmember comprising a sleeve portion rotatably mounted on said resilientmember opposite to said pins, a handle portion extending from one sideof said sleeve portion, a wedgeshaped ridge extending from the oppositeside of said sleeve portion, said device being locked to said post byrotating said resilient member to enclose both of said jaws and causingsaid sleeve to lie adjacent the back of the other of said jaws, saidhandle being rotated downward toward said post to cause said ridge tofrictionally force said other jaw downward on said tapering post totightly lock said jaws on said post.

2. In a device adapted to releasably connect a cable to an upwardlytapering terminal post, a pair of jaws, one of said jaws having thecable secured thereto, said jaws engaging said post, the back of one ofsaid jaws having a plurality of spaced-apart parallel grooves therein,pins extending from opposite sides of the other of said jaws, asubstantially U-shaped resilient member having coiled ends rotatablymounted on said pins, locking member comprising a sleeve porjaw, saidhandle being rotated downward toward said post to cause said ridge toregister in one of said grooves to frictionally force said grooved jawdownward on said tapering post to tightly lock said jaws on said post.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pair of jaws, one ofsaid jaws having means for connecting a cable thereto, said jaws beingadapted to engage an upwardly tapering terminal post, a substantiallyU-shaped resilient member pivotally mounted on one of said jaws, alocking member having a sleeve, the base of said U-shaped member beingmounted rotatably in said sleeve, the other of said jaws having a groovetherein, a ridge on said locking member engageable with said groove tocause said member to force said other jaw down toward the base of saidpost to lock said jaws releasably against said post.

OTTO RICHTER. BERNARD CARMIGGELT.

